Dig Deep: Sport, Faith, Life

Josh Lindblom grew up in Indiana and found he could throw a baseball really hard. Josh eventually played college baseball at Tennessee and Purdue, then was drafted by the Dodgers in 2008, and made his Major league debut in 2011.  Josh spent 15 years in professional baseball, playing for multiple major league teams and in […]

Are you wondering about AI and sport? We are too. Tracy Trothen is an interdisciplinary professor of ethics at Queen's University, and she's a long time expert on sport, technology, and ethics. Tracy is also a certified spiritual care supervisor and ordained minister, Tracy loves sports and is more excited than daunted by the possibilities […]

Juliana Smith is the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Mission Impact and Enrichment at Baylor University – and that's just the start of her title. Juliana already has a long history of successful stops in sport administration roles at places like Texas Tech, and Oklahoma, and Colgate, so it’s no wonder Baylor sought her […]

Kevin Washington is the  Associate Athletic Director for Mission Impact and Enrichment and Athletics Chaplain at Baylor University. After a stellar college football career at Notre Dame, Kevin entered sports ministry through FCA and has served in ministry roles at a number of universities. Kevin will be a keynote speaker at the 4th Global congress […]

Dr Graham Daniels, a repeat guest on SFL, is a former professional footballer in the UK, and is now the General Director of Christians in Sport, an organization with the mission to reach the world of sport for Christ. Graham will be a keynote speaker at the 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity at […]

Eric Bain-Selbo is dean and religious studies scholar with a keen eye for sports. He is the co-editor of the International Journal of Sport and Religion, and for a career he has podered and written about the about the intersection of religion and sport.

Sabrina Little is a philosopher specializing in virtue ethics, moral psychology, and classical philosophy. She's also an elite level runner and has been selected to represent the United States on five national teams. Her first book, The Examined Run, combines those two interests.  Sabrina will also be a keynote speaker at the next Global Congress […]

Father Patrick Kelly is a Jesuit priest, a professor, and an absolute gem in world of Christianity and sport.  He's authored multiple books, articles and book chapters on sport and faith, and he works collaboration with Vatican offices about the topic of spirituality and sport.

B3rd athletics is an organization that helps coaches and athletes put God first, others second, and themselves third. Founder, Director, and Coach Tanner Field lives this out through very intentional choices and practices with his team. His highly successful teams aim for excellence, knowing that in the absence of God, they can’t ever be excellent.

After degrees in journalism from Cornell and Syracuse, Matt Sieger became a sports reporter for several publications on both the east and west coasts of the US. As Jewish believer in Jesus who converted later in life, Matt has been drawn to researching and writing columns about Christian athletes. His new book entitled, The God […]

Isaac Lee is a badminton champion of the Arctic Winter Games, and so much more! Isaac serves as the Continuing Education Program Manager for Truett Seminary's Sport and Faith Institute.  Before coming to Truett, Isaac employed his passion for Jesus Christ, and sports as a sports ministry leader with Athletes in Action. Isaac is now […]

Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are nicknamed the Big Three of men’s tennis. Luke Helm thinks they have something to teach us.  Luke has coached two nationally ranked collegiate tennis programs, is an author with graduate degrees in both theology and writing, has won a pickleball national championship, and is the “Director of Rackets” at a […]

Cindy White has been exploring and advancing the integration of sport and faith for over 40 years. Cindy is a former Division 1 athlete and coach, a camp director, chaplain, adjunct professor, and leader with Athletes in Action. Cindy specializes in identity and character formation athletes and coaches, and you can find out much more […]

The Catholic Church has much to teach on play and practice in sport. Dr. John Acquaviva explores Catholic theology for healthy living, body image, play, and sport on his radio show and in his writing. Today on SFL, our conversation ranges from rugby, to the sacrament of reconciliation, to the dilemma of transgender athletes in […]

Dr. Brandon Crooms. Brandon is a visiting professor of Sports Management at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and has written a new devotional book titled the game changer – a Playbook of Prayer, Scripture, and Affirmations for athletes.  Brandon's research focuses on the influence of Christian faith in the development of racial and athletic […]

The countdown is on! The 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity is about a year away, set for July 31-August 2, 2025 at Baylor University in Waco, TX.  Dr. Paul Putz, Director of the Faith & Sports Institute run by Truett Seminary is leading the effort and give us a sneak peak at how […]

Andy Dooley does it all for the Lord. He's a fitness professional, was the face of Reebok, served a youth pastor and family mentor, and is an in game entertainment stadium host for the Seattle Seahawks. He’s also the author of a devotional for athletes entitled Lead with Faith: Play with Purpose. 

Kyle is a performance coach instructor Dordt University in Iowa, US.Kyle recently took a group of students to Scotland to explore sport and sport culture while paying close attention to the intersection of religion and sport.

Charlotte Smith is the head women's basketball coach at Elon University. Charlotte became instantly famous in 1994 when she made the game winning 3-pointer at the buzzer for the North Carolina Tarheels to win the NCAA National Championship. After college, Charlotte played professional basketball in Italy and in the WNBA. She is the author of […]

In Galatians 5 the followers of Jesus Christ are told about 9 “fruits” that are cultivated as one walks with the Spirit. Are the Fruits of the Spirit found, nurtured, or inhibited in the cultures of sport? Brian and Chad ask these questions and more as they continue their series about the Fruits of the […]

Champions of the Masters golf tournament played at August National Golf Club earn the famed green jacket and a place in history. Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 Masters in April, earning his second green jacket, and validated his number one ranking.  Scottie is known to openly share his Christian faith, and this years press conference […]

Dr. Matt Hoven is one of our favorite guests on Sport Faith Life. He's a professor at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. His latest book is Hockey Priest: Father David Bauer and the Spirit of the Canadian Game.

Jon Welty Peachey is the Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Sport Management and Leadership at Gordon College. His research and practical projects focus on using sport for personal development, justice, and social change.

Andy Young grew up playing soccer, but didn’t plan on it having a big impact on his life. God had other plans. After a few years in ministry, Andy starting working as a  sports chaplain, and now he is a full time chaplain working with the United States men's national soccer team.

Jay Carney is Professor of Theology and African Studies and directs the Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton, a Jesuit University. Dr. Carney writes about Catholic theology and sport and teaches specialized courses in Sport and Spirituality, where he uses theology to explore the good and bad in sport and its surrounding culture.

The seven deadly sins are a well known group of vices found within the teachings of the Christian church. These sins are often described as distortions or excessive versions of something otherwise natural to human life. Brian and Chad ask whether the practice and culture of sport foster or inhibit the deadly sins as they […]

Dr. Perry Glanzer is a professor at Baylor University and the Editor-in-Chief of Christian Scholar's Review and the widely popular Christ Animating Learning Blog.  He has authored or edited more than a dozen books about religion, moral education, and faith based learning. He also likes to play sports and ponder what they offer to humanity.

In Galatians 5 the followers of Jesus Christ are told about 9 “fruits” that are cultivated as one walks with the Spirit. Are the Fruits of the Spirit found, nurtured, or inhibited in the cultures of sport? Brian and Chad ask these questions and more as they continue their series about the Fruits of the […]

The seven deadly sins are a well known group of vices found within the teachings of the Christian church. These sins are often described as distortions or excessive versions of something otherwise natural to human life. Brian and Chad ask whether the practice and culture of sport foster or inhibit the deadly sins as they […]

Jim Abbott was a standout Major League Baseball pitcher for 10 years. Because he was born without a right hand, Jim pitched, fielded, threw, and occasionally hit with only his left arm, one good enough to earn a gold medal, be a MLB first round draft pick, and throw a no-hitter in 1993 for the […]

In Galatians 5 the followers of Jesus Christ are told about 9 “fruits” that are cultivated as one walks with the Spirit. Are the Fruits of the Spirit found, nurtured, or inhibited in the cultures of sport? Brian and Chad ask these questions and more as they continue their series about the Fruits of the […]

Dave Johns has served in campus and sports ministry for an incredible 45 years! Dave and his wife Barb continue in campus ministry, and with that much experience, Dave now helps AIA staff develop in their vision and ministry skills. To this day, Dave's fire to touch the lives of athletes with Jesus's message of […]

The seven deadly sins are a well known group of vices found within the teachings of the Christian church. These sins are often described as distortions or excessive versions of something otherwise natural to human life. Brian and Chad ask whether the practice and culture of sport foster or inhibit the deadly sins as they […]

Join us as we celebrate the 100th episode of the Sport. Faith. Life Podcast!  Guest host Emily Dock turns the tables on Brian and Chad and makes them answer the questions.  Learn about the past, present, and future of the Sport. Faith. Life. Podcast.    

Sean Strehlow is an assistant professor of sports management at Messiah University, a former college tennis player, and researcher on college athletics, faith, and character development in sport.

In Galatians 5 the followers of Jesus Christ are told about 9 “fruits” that are cultivated as one walks with the Spirit. Are the Fruits of the Spirit found, nurtured, or inhibited in the cultures of sport? Brian and Chad ask these questions and more as they continue their series about the Fruits of the […]

Is baseball God's game? Dr. Jared Ortiz, a teacher of Catholic theology at Hope College thinks.. maybe so? He is currently co-authoring a commentary on the Nicene Creed, and along the way, drawing fascinating connections to it and a theology of baseball.

The seven deadly sins are a well known group of vices found within the teachings of the Christian church. These sins are often described as distortions or excessive versions of something otherwise natural to human life. Brian and Chad ask whether the practice and culture of sport foster or inhibit the deadly sins as they […]

Stuart Weir has devoted much of his life to helping people understand and practice both sport and Christian faith, better. Stuart has served as a chaplain for many high profile sports, has written several books on sport and faith, and is the executive director of Verite Sport, an organization that features the best of sport […]

In Galatians 5 the followers of Jesus Christ are told about 9 “fruits” that are cultivated as one walks with the Spirit. Are the Fruits of the Spirit found, nurtured, or inhibited in the cultures of sport? Brian and Chad ask these questions and more as they continue their series about the Fruits of the […]

Born with Spina Bifida, Casey Ratzlaff played many sports until he found tennis at the age of 12. Years later, Casey advanced to the round of 16 in singles and the quarterfinals in doubles at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, and today he competes around the world as a professional in the sport of wheelchair […]

The seven deadly sins are a well known group of vices found within the teachings of the Christian church. These sins are often described as distortions or excessive versions of something otherwise natural to human life. Brian and Chad ask whether the practice and culture of sport foster or inhibit the deadly sins as they […]

Bailey Moody played many sports as a kid, but at age 10 she was diagnosed with stage four osteosarcoma which required multiple treatments to save her life, including amputation of her right leg. Bailey drew on her faith and athletic drive to pursue wheelchair basketball. Since that time, Bailey has played for University of Alabama, […]

In Galatians 5 the followers of Jesus Christ are told about 9 “fruits” that are cultivated as one walks with the Spirit. Are the Fruits of the Spirit found, nurtured, or inhibited in the cultures of sport? Brian and Chad ask these questions and more as continue their series about the Fruits of the Spirit […]

Alecia Ivery is doing amazing things with sports. She has worked with two sports-based youth development organizations – Girls in the Game and The Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, both of which have as a mission to uplift and develop young young people through sport.

The seven deadly sins are a well known group of vices found within the teachings of the Christian church. These sins are often described as distortions or excessive versions of something otherwise natural to human life. Brian and Chad ask whether the practice and culture of sport foster or inhibit the deadly sins as they […]

John Levis is on a mission. John is an athlete, coach, entrepreneur, ministry leader, and now the founder of Coach’s Call, a consulting ministry helping sport coaches to see their work, including the pursuit of success and the mentoring of athletes, as acts of worship to the Creator – that is the call of a […]

In Galatians 5 the followers of Jesus Christ are told about 9 “fruits” that are cultivated as one walks with the Spirit. Are the Fruits of the Spirit found, nurtured, or inhibited in the cultures of sport? Brian and Chad ask these questions and more as continue their series about the Fruits of the Spirit […]

Son of a pastor, college basketball player, PhD historian, and the assistant director of the Faith & Sports Institute at Truett Seminary and Baylor University, Dr. Paul Putz has a lot to share. His research and writing has been featured at Christianity Today, Slate, National Public Radio, Religion News Service, and more. Paul is deep thinker and […]

The seven deadly sins are a well known group of vices found within the teachings of the Christian church. These sins are often described as distortions or excessive versions of something otherwise natural to human life. Brian and Chad ask whether the practice and culture of sport foster or inhibit the deadly sins as they […]

Imagine a ministry enterprise growing out of college class project. Drew Boe turned some unused sports gear into an entrepreneurial ministry. Today, Uncommon Sports helps followers of Christ navigate the sport industry by providing faith-based training & resources, all by collecting and selling more than 200,000 pounds of donated sports apparel and equipment.